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Air pollution may raise risk of dementia, analysis says

Researchers examined 16 studies and found consistent evidence of a connection between toxic air pollutants known as PM 2.5 and dementia

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April 5, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. EDT
Inhaling toxic air pollutants known as PM 2.5 may increase risk of dementia, an analysis of several studies shows. (iStock)
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Breathing in microscopic air pollutants may raise the risk of developing dementia, according to a new analysis of existing research by public health scientists at Harvard.

It has long been known that inhaling these microscopic particles — also known as PM 2.5, particles less than 2.5 microns in width — can cause serious health issues. (In comparison, the width of a single human hair is 50 to 100 microns.)